Page 57 of Mr. Broody

His body is so close to mine. A lifetime ago, he would have pressed me against the brick and kissed me until I was flushed with lust, not embarrassment. But we’re not in that life anymore.

“Come on and spend some time with my friends. They’re dying to get to know you.”

“Why?” I ask, not going with him. “I mean… we’re not…”

He turns with my hand in his. “Because you’re important to me, Jade.”

I want to ask if I really am, but he’s still important to me, so I take him at his word. Maybe this is the beginning of our new normal. I don’t know what that would be, but I guess we’ll find out.

Twenty-Five

Henry

Jade slides her hand out of mine right before I open the door to Bodhi’s party room. I can’t say I blame her—it’s not as if we’re together—but damn, her hand felt good in mine. It felt as though it belonged.

Mack is still decorating which is crazy since we’re talking about a seven-year-old here.

“Have you ever thought about opening a party planning business?” Kyleigh asks him.

“Hey,” I say and shake my head. I’d be lost without Mack.

Kyleigh turns around. “Oh. Hi, guys.”

“Where’s the wicked witch of the Midwest?” Rowan asks, and Kyleigh slaps him in the stomach. “You know that only turns me on.”

Conor inhales a deep breath at Rowan’s remark to his sister but breaks the distance and comes over to us. “Hey Jade, nice of you to join us today.” He sticks out his hand, and she slides her hand into his.

“Hi, Conor.”

Tweetie waves from the snack table, where he and Rowan are eating as if they just got off a survival show where they were lost in the woods for a month. “Jade, my girl.”

Rowan wipes his hands on a napkin and comes over. “Hey, I’m the only one who hasn’t officially met you. I’m Rowan, Kyleigh’s man.”

Kyleigh beams behind him.

“Or otherwise known as the center for the Falcons, if you didn’t know, because if you didn’t, he’ll tell you.” Conor walks back over to Tweetie and grabs a juice box.

“Kyleigh’s man is just fine.” She walks up and wraps her arms around his waist, and he kisses the top of her head. “Hey, Jade. How is Eloise?”

Jade steps away from me, and she and Kyleigh go over to a table and talk about Eloise and her wedding.

Rowan leans in closer to me and says under his breath, “Maybe get her a drink.”

“Don’t act like I don’t know how to entertain my guest.” But the truth is that I was a little awestruck she’s here, celebrating Bodhi’s birthday with us.

“Well, you still haven’t gotten her a drink.”

I walk past him, nudging my shoulder against his, and head over to the drink table. All I can offer her is a juice box or a mini water bottle.

“No drinks for the adults, Mack?” I ask. “And centerpieces, seriously?”

“Sorry, let me go get the case of champagne,” he says dryly.

I pick up a juice box and a small bottle of water and walk toward Jade and Kyleigh.

“I’m so proud,” Tweetie says.

“He’s all grown up,” Conor adds.

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